Women’s sports are under fire across America as more men are deciding they would rather be a woman, but don’t want to give up their passion for sports. Maybe they weren’t good at sports as men? Maybe they want to win more? Maybe they’re completely straight men who want the opportunity to look at women in the locker room? Who knows (they don’t.)
Thankfully some people aren’t buying into it.
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota is putting her foot (and pen) down hard in defense of women’s sports. Noem announced on Monday that she will enthusiastically sign into law a bill that would limit women’s sports at public schools to biological women only.
In South Dakota, we’re celebrating #InternationalWomensDay by defending women’s sports! I’m excited to sign this bill very soon.
In South Dakota, we're celebrating #InternationalWomensDay by defending women's sports! I'm excited to sign this bill very soon. https://t.co/OU15HOwp2r
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) March 8, 2021
Unsurprisingly, the bill was met with fierce opposition by the ACLU. The advocacy group testified against the bill, with Jett Jonelis saying,
“In an attempt to ‘level the playing field,’ House Bill 1217 excludes an entire group of women and girls from meaningful participation in sports … House Bill 1217 isn’t about protecting fairness in women’s sports. It’s about erasing and excluding trans people from participation in all aspects of public life.”
One Twitter user had the nerve to call the legislation hateful:
This is a hateful piece of legislation. State gov’t needs to stay in their lane. This is and should be a school district discussion, not political. I suspect it will be challenged in the courts.
This is a hateful piece of legislation. State gov't needs to stay in their lane. This is and should be a school district discussion, not political. I suspect it will be challenged in the courts.
— Brinker (@Brinker82084594) March 8, 2021
South Dakota isn’t the only state making this move. Mississippi’s state House also passed a bill banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. The Magnolia State’s House voted 81-28 and is expected to be signed into state law.
In regards to the naysayer tweeter above, “stay in your lane” is actually the very thing Noem is doing. State lawmakers make laws about their states. That’s the exact responsibility they’re elected to do.
